Vacuum aud pressitbe governor



Dep. 29, 1925. y v1,?67520 D. A. LEIGH VACUUM AND PRESSURE GOVERNOR, REGULATOR, OR CONTROL Filed Oct. 9, 1922 (WDM lll N i nl ll l Hl Il Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

` UNITED STATES DON A.YLEIG-H, OF FELLOWS, CALIFORNIA.

VACUUM AND PRESSURE GOVERNOR, REGULATOR, OR CONTROL.

Application filed Gctober 9, 1922. Serial No. 593,471.

ETo all whom t may Concern:

Be it known that I, DON A. Leren, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fellows, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented a new and useful Vacuum and Pressure Governor, Regulator, or Control for Use upon Gas and Air Lines,

of which the following is a specification.

In the present state of the oil industry, natural gas is becoming increasingly valuable, because of discovery of means of removing its gasoline content by absorption and compression processes, as well as its use for fuel by the producing companies, and its salability to gas companies for the purpose of light and fuel. The saving of such gas forms an important branch of oil production methods, and mechanical means are resorted to in order to recover and save the gas as the same issues from the wells, and to accelerate the flow thereof through pipe-lines to the plantswhere such gas is to be used. i

Such result is effected by means of pumps of various types producing vacuum on one Y side, withdrawing gas from the casing head of the well, or through a gas trap, separating -the gas from the `oil as the oil is pumped from the well, and causing it to iiow towards the vacuum pump. At the pump, the gas is taken through the valves of the pump, and as it passes beyond, pressure is applied, and the gas is forced forward to its ultimate destination.

One pump may serve one or many wells, and it is apparent that the well nearest the pump will at all times be subject to the Greatest vacuum, to the detriment of wells located at a greater distance. It is desirable under ordinary conditions, to take the gas from the well at atmospheric pressure, and prevent the vacuum from acting on either the casing head or gas trap. In many cases, where such vacuum is applied direct, without the intervention of any regulating apparatus, the power exerted by the suction of the vacuum pump is sufficient to pull the oil or fluid content of the gas trap, over and out of the same and into the gas line, causing difficulty in freeing the line, and a loss of gas and oil.

To overcome this loss and equalize the vacuum exerted at each of a series of wells served by the 'same pipe-line, leading to the same vacuum pumping plant, I apply upon the gas line at a convenient distance from the casing head or gas trap, the device illustra-ted in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan of the device, showing its n location and attachment to the gas line :from the casing head or gas trap at the well; and Fig. :2, is an elevation of the same device, with parts thereof exposed, showing internal operation.

Similar numerals in the two views are identical, and refer to the same part of the device.

u Flow of casing head gas from an oil well is intermittent in time and irregular in quantity. During an intermission of iiow, the gaseous contents of the pipe (l), are exhausted or attenuated by means of the vacuum pump, and this vacuum is extended through the smaller pipe (6), and exhausts 75 the contents of the chamber of piston, (2), thereby causing the piston plunger (8), to be drawn backward, moving with it the piston rod (5), engaging and rotating the geared wheel (t), imparting motion to its axle, and 30 closing the diaphragm of the butterfly valve (3). This interposes an obstacle to the further action of such vacuum pump beyond such butterfly valve, and releases it for action upon other wells connected with such pipe 55 line, and prevents the lifting or withdrawal of the fluid contents of the gas trap, by means of such suction, into the pipe-line; or the exertion of further vacuum upon the casing head or gas trap.

To prevent intake of air through the piston cylinder (2), the gland of the plunger (8), rests accurately against the shoulder (9), securely sealing same from all access of air, and avoiding any vitiation thereby of the vacuum in pipe (l).

lhen a flow of gas later occurs from such well, it accumulates in the casing head or gas trap, flows into the pipe-line, and by means of pipe (6), into the chamber of the 100 piston (2), where, by reason of its further progress being impeded by the butterfly valve (8), it exerts a pressure on the piston plunger (8), forces it forward together with the piston rod (5), engaging the geared 105 wheel (4), rotating it on its axis, and thereby opening the diaphragm of the butterfly valve (3), whereupon it is taken up by suction from the vacuum pump, and withdrawn through the pipe-line to its destination. An oil cup (7 with needle valve, is tapped into the crown of the piston, and lubricates the plunger (8)maintaining the freedom of its movements as thesarne is incessantly-*actuated by the uctuating pressure or vacuum in the chamber of the piston.

I claiml. In a pipe-line, or other tubular device for the conveyance ol" gas, or other lighter than air substances, Where the contents thereof are at times under greater than atmosphericpressure,l and-at other times under the same or less thansuchfpressure, a ialve of suitable type affixed Within such pipe-line or device, by a transverse shalt, one end oil-Which extends through suchfpipe, tovvhich thereis externally alliXed a c'ogged wheel; a toothed rodengaging such cogged wheel, and which rodat its opposite end'is attached to a piston, operating-.Within a cylinder, one end whereof is-opento the atmosphere, and the opposite endthereois connected beyond the point of movementcl said pistonyby a pipeconnected with thersaid pipe line-freely admitting-f the contents of auch pipeline when inpressu-re, or having suchpiston `chamber exhausted of such vcontents When said pipe-lineA is at less than atmespherieqpressure, ywhereby said piston is driven forward When-such pressure is eX-V erted, or drawn in the'opposite `direction when in\ vaeuoflthereby controlling the ac? tion of said valve; Within Which cylinder and forming` an integral part thereof; there is -afliXed a shoulder or flanged rim against which the gland of the piston plunger accurately* rests, when such piston plunger is drawn'inward by thesuctiOn of the vacuum inrvsa/id/piston-.chamber and pipe line; and together With a tapped entrance or duct-0n said-cylinder to receive' thestern of an oil cup for the purpose of lubricating the same when the plunger therein is f-inl action2 Q. ln a pipe-line7 or other tubular device Ylor the conveyance of air, Where the contents ther'e'o't arev at times under greater than atmospheric pressure,y and at other times under the same or less than such pressure, a valve of suitable type aiXed Within 'such pipe-line or device, by a transverse ne is a* less thanA atmospheric pressure7 whereby said piston is driven 'forward when such pressnreis exerted, or'drawvn inthe Opposite direction when in vacu'oythereby centrolling the acti'on'zoi saidvalve; Within which cylinder and 'orining-anintegral part thereof-there is-alined a shoulderor ianged rim against ivlrich'theglando'f the ypiston plunger accurately restatwhenv such piston plunger is drawn inward by the suction of he vacuum ins-aid pistonzchamber and pipe line; and together with a tapped entrance or duct said cylinder to receive the stem of an oil cup for the purpose of-lubricatlng the saine when the plunger! therein-isdn-action.

DON A. LEIGH.- 

